2 smugglers arrested for fuel diversion

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and GMD of NNPC

Abiodun Onafuye, Abeokuta Two suspected smugglers of fuel have been arrested by officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Ogun State.
The two suspects identified as Aminu Sanni, 30, and Aminu Muhammed, 37, were caught along Igbogila- Igua road attempting to smuggle 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) to Nigeria’s neighbour, Republic of Benin.
The petrol tanker with registration number Kastina DTS 47 XA was also impounded by the NSCDC officials.
A statement signed by NSCDC spokesman in Ogun State Kareem Olanrewaju, revealed that the corps’ anti-hoarding and petroleum pump price monitoring team made the arrest, acting on a tip off.
The State Corps Commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande has ordered investigation into the matter to ascertain the source of the fuel
“The Command is interested in the source of the fuel as it could have been siphoned from vandalised pipeline.
“The Command will also intensify efforts in curbing the activities of fuel smugglers, who take fuel meant for Nigerians to neighbouring countries. This will help in reducing fuel scarcity being faced by Nigerians.
“All officers of the Command covering border areas have been directed to act in this regard,” the statement read in part.
The arrest of the suspects had corroborated the assertion by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that smugglers were largely responsible for fuel scarcity in the southwest.
Kachikwu had during a town hall meeting in Lagos explained that fuel scarcity in Lagos and other parts of the southwest was largely caused by the activities of smugglers, whom he alleged, smuggle 30% of fuel supplied to the area to neighbouring countries.

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